Monthly Archives: February 2014
People’s Store
Written on February 17, 2014 at 8:47 am, by Ian Holliday
The Irrawaddy Literary Festival 2014 was held in Mandalay this weekend. I wasn’t there and can’t report from the frontline, but I would like to salute an event now in its second year and hopefully looking to a successful future. A striking consequence of Burma’s long retreat from the world is how rarely its dark…
Met Opera in Yangon?
Written on February 14, 2014 at 8:32 am, by Ian Holliday
Yangon faces many urgent challenges in the drive to make up for 50 years of isolation and neglect. Sewers, street lights, public transport, traffic flow, affordable housing, heritage conservation, and so much more all require immediate attention. But on Valentine’s Day 2014, an opera lover can perhaps indulge a more frivolous interest. As Yangon turns…
ICG conflict alert
Written on February 13, 2014 at 8:44 am, by Ian Holliday
Yesterday the International Crisis Group issued a Myanmar conflict alert. At issue is the nationwide census planned for March 30 – April 10, 2014. Long viewed as a necessary technical exercise in a country that last enumerated its population in 1983, the current census is now generating deep political anxiety. Chiefly concern focuses on complex…
Palimpsest problematic
Written on February 12, 2014 at 11:50 am, by Ian Holliday
It’s a forbidding term, but it conveys an interesting idea. It’s taken from a public lecture given yesterday evening at the University of Hong Kong by Harvard’s Professor Grzegorz Ekiert. His topic was the great transformation in east-central Europe, 25 years on from 1989. He argued that history matters in shaping transitions. Paradoxically, distant history…
Aung Soe Min
Written on February 12, 2014 at 12:06 am, by Ian Holliday
Aung Soe Min November 20, 2013 Aung Soe Min discusses the Pansodan Friday Journal.
Aung Soe Min
Written on February 12, 2014 at 12:05 am, by Ian Holliday
Aung Soe Min November 20, 2013 Aung Soe Min talks about setting up the Pansodan Gallery in 2008, and about Myanmar’s evolving contemporary art scene.
Sue Htat Aung and Than Htay
Written on February 12, 2014 at 12:04 am, by Ian Holliday
Sue Htat Aung and Than Htay November 19, 2013 Than Htay briefly discusses his art with Sue Htat Aung. [This video is in the Myanmar language with English subtitles.]
Pyay Way and Sue Htat Aung
Written on February 12, 2014 at 12:03 am, by Ian Holliday
Pyay Way and Sue Htat Aung November 19, 2013 Sue Htat Aung discusses his art with Pyay Way. [This video is in the Myanmar language.]
An established routine
Written on February 12, 2014 at 12:03 am, by Ian Holliday
At least in academic circles, it’s hardly possible to write or speak about the country on which this blog focuses without making an opening remark about terminology. Burma or Myanmar? It’s an established routine. My own policy (which I won’t impose on anyone submitting a post to this blog) is to use Burma and associated terms…
Union Day 2014
Written on February 12, 2014 at 12:02 am, by Ian Holliday
Each year on February 12, Myanmar celebrates Union Day. The anniversary looks back to the date in 1947 when nationalist leader Aung San met with representatives of several indigenous peoples to sign the Panglong Agreement. The aim was to smooth relations between the majority Burmans and the many minority ethnic groups making up what was soon to be sovereign Burma….